Sealed-beam headlight

ABSTRACT

A reflector of a sealed-beam headlight has a tubular neck provided with an outer opening encircled by a retaining ring which is fixed to the neck. A bulb extends through the outer open end into the reflector having a socket located in the neck and in turn encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange. A cup-shaped member surrounds the outer open end and has engaging portions in snug-fitted engagement with the retaining ring, and at least one sealing ring is sealingly compressed between the cup-shaped member and one or both of the mounting flange and the socket.

SEALED-BEAM HEADLIGHT Inventors: Joachim Schmidt, Ditzingen; Ernst Merkl; Ulrich Zillgitt, both of Stuttgart, all of Germany Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany Filed: Feb. 13, 1973 Appl. No.: 332,169

Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 25, 1972 Germany 2208886 US. Cl. 240/41 R, 240/7.1 R, 240/41 SC,

240/41 SB Int. Cl. F21m Field of Search 240/41 R, 41 SB, 41 SC, 240/26, 153, 7.1; 313/113 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,233,486 3/1941 Portnow 240/41 R [4 June 18, 1974 2,265,446 12/1941 POglein 240/41 SC 2,750,491 6/1956 Anderson 240/41 SC FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 637,287 5/1950 Great Britain 240/41 SC 568,738 4/1945 Great Britain 240/41 SC Primary ExaminerRichard L. Moses Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A reflector of a sealed-beam headlight has a tubular neck provided with an outer opening encircled by a retaining ring which is fixed to the neck. A bulb extends through the outer open end into the reflector having a socket located in the neck and in turn encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange. A cup-shaped member surrounds the outer open end and has engaging portions in snug-fitted engagement with the retaining ring, and at least one sealing ring is sealingly compressed between the cup-shaped member and one or both of the mounting flange and the socket.

20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures iii" PATENTEDJUNI 8 I574 sum 2 [1F 3 PATENIEU JUN 1 s 1914 SHEET 3 BF 3 1 SEALED-BEAM HEADLIGHT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to headlights, and more particularly to headlights of the sealed-beam type.

Sealed-beam headlights are too much a part of modern technology to require detailed descriptions. For purposes of the present specification it is merely necessary to point out two factors relating to this type of headlight. On the one hand, the conception of the sealed-beam type of headlight is based upon the consideration that the entry of moisture, contaminants, and the like, onto the interior of the light should be prevented, one of the reasons being that in the previous non-sealed types the entry of moisture caused corrosion of the reflector. From this point of view the development of sealed beam is a decided advantage over the art prior to them. However, there is also a disadvantage involved, namely the fact that the filament or filaments are freely exposed within the reflector which, together with the glass envelope of the headlight, surrounds the evacuated space required for proper operation. The terminals of the filament extend through the glass of the envelope to the exterior of the latter, being embedded in this glass where they penetrate the envelope. This provides for a completely fluid-tight construction; hence the term sealed-beam.

However, this construction necessarily means that if any defect develops in the interior of the headlight, such as burning-through of the filament, the entire headlight must be discarded. These headlights of course are mostly used for automotive vehicles where they are subjected to constant and often very significant vibrations. The filaments, on the other hand, are quite delicate and as a consequence the lifetime of such filaments is frequently rather short. This means that whenever such a filament burns through it is not possible simply to replace the filamentby replacing a comparatively inexpensive bulb containing the filament, as in the headlights prior to the sealed-beam development-but that the rather expensive sealed-beam headlight must be discarded and replaced with a new one.

In view of the aforementioned advantages and disadvantages it would seem reasonable to provide a headlight combining the advantages of the sealed-beam type while eliminating its disadvantages. The prior art does, in fact, contain a proposal of this type. There, the headlight has a hermetically closed internal space into which a removable bulb is inserted, and the rear end of the headlight and of the bulb is closed by a cup-shaped member which provides for a gas-tight closure. A removable strip connects the cup-shaped member with the reflector, and a closable evacuating passage is provided which permits the evacuation of the hermetically closed interior of the headlight itself.

If in this construction the filament in the bulb burns out, the removable strip is peeled off, releasing the cupshaped member and permitting removal of the burnedout bulb which is then replaced by a new one. However, since the user has no facilities for resealing the construction and evacuating the interior of the headlight again, this means that when the new bulb has been inserted the interior of the headlight is now no longer sealed, and access of contaminants, particularly the aggressive gases in the ambient atmosphere, will rapidly destroy the reflector. Since it can be taken for granted that the lifetime of the filament in the bulb will be about the same as that of a filament in a sealed-beam headlight, given the fact that they are both used in the same manner and subjected to essentially the same vibrations, this means that the last-mentioned prior-art proposal increases the overall life of the headlight only slightly, namely by the time which elapses between the replacement of the original bulb with a new one and the corrosion of the now-exposed reflector to the point where it no longer performs its intended purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved sealed-beam headlight which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide such an improved sealed-beam headlight which utilizes a separate light bulb that can be replaced but which will be fully sealed against the ambient atmosphere when the replacement bulb has been installed.

In keeping with these objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a sealed-beam headlight which, briefly stated, comprises a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end, and a retaining ring fixed on the tubular neck encircling the same. A bulb extends through the neck into the reflector and has a socket located in the neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange. A cup-shaped member surrounds the outer open end and has engaged portions in snap-fitted engagement with the retaining rings. At least one sealing ring is sealingly compressed between the cup-shaped member and at least one of the mounting flange and socket.

This construction permits the removal of a defective bulb and its replacement by a new one, and assures that when a new bulb is installed the interior of the headlight will again be sealed against the deleterious influences of the ambient atmosphere, whereby the reflector and, of course, the lens of the headlight continue to be protected against dust, moisture, and corrosion.

This is particularly important because of the frequently heavy concentrations of engine emissions in the ambient air, especially sulfur oxides and their compounds, which are highly deleterious to the reflector surface of the reflector and attack and destroy the same very rapidly. With the construction according to the present invention this surface is accessible to contact with the ambient atmosphere only for the brief period of time required for replacing a defective bulb with a new one. Once the new bulb has been installed, the interior of the headlight is again sealed, and the entry of aggressive gases is again impossible.

According to one particular concept of the invention a particularly effective seal is obtained if the sealing ring is disk-shaped and has an outer and an inner cylindrical collar, with the latter being engaged by a collar of the cup-shaped member. According to another embodiment the contact of the annular mounting flange of the bulb with the neck of the reflector is assured at the same time as the sealing ring is pressed by the cupshaped member into sealing engagement with its associated component or components by providing the sealing ring at its opposite axial sides with at least three projections which are located intermediate the inner and outer collar.

There are special bulbs available which can be used in conjunction with the headlight according to the present invention to assure gas-tight sealing. If these special bulbs should not be available, as may for instance occur if a bulb becomes defective while travelling, then a further concept of the present invention assures that even with the use of a standard bulb the interior of the head light will at least be sealed against the entry of dust and moisture. For this purpose, one embodiment of the invention provides for the inner collar of the sealing ring to be provided with a radially inwardly extending engaging portion which engages the bulb socket. Another possibility is to use two O-rings as sealing rings, one of them being compressed between the cupshaped member and the retaining ring, and a second being compressed between the cup-shaped member and the socket of the bulb.

The retaining ring can be soldered to the reflector,

' but under certain circumstances there then exists the possibility that the heat developed during the soldering operation might tend to warp the reflector with a resultant disadvantageous influence on the distribution of light reflected by the same. Also, a reflector which has the retaining ring soldered to it cannot be dip-coated because a body of the coating liquid would tend to accumulate in the retaining ring. These disadvantages can be avoided according to a further concept of the invention if the reflector is first dip-coated and the retaining ring is then connected with it in a manner other than by soldering, with the seal between the reflector and the retaining ring being provided by means of an O-ring which is bounded by a shoulder on its radial extension.

. will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary axial section through a sealed-beam headlight according to the present invention, the illustration being of a generalized nature to provide an overview;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale, showing details of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating an additional embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modification of the embodiment in that Figure; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating still a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing in detail, and firstly FIG. 1, it will be seen that reference numeral 10 designates a reflector which is only fragmentarily shown and will be understood to be provided at the front or outlet end with a lens which serves for proper distribution of the light emitted through it. The interior of the reflector is to be gas-tight, that is sealed, and of course the lens is approximately connected with the reflector for this purpose. At its rear side away from the lens the reflector is provided with a cylindrical neck 20 through an outer open end of which there is inserted into the in terior of the reflector an incandescent light bulb 12 which, in accordance with the present invention, is maintained in its appropriate position and sealed with respect to the reflector by a cup-shaped member 13. The light bulb 12 is a two-filament bulb and has the usual glass envelope 14, a socket 16 carrying the glass envelope and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange l5, and three connecting terminals 17. The bracket 18 is mounted in the reflector l0 and provided with a light bafile (not shown) which in conventional manner shields the envelope 14 against direct forward emission of light, with the baffle extending coaxially with the optical axis 0-0 of the headlight.

While FIG. 1 provides a general explanatory overview of a headlight according to the present invention, FIG. 2 shows details of a first embodiment. In FIG. 2 the two brackets 18 mounting the light baffle have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

The neck of the reflector is identified with reference numeral 20 and it will be seen that the socket i6 is located within the confines of the neck 20, with a portion 21 being received in a recess of the neck 20 (not shown) so that the bulb 12 is in proper orientation with reference to the optical axis 0-0. The mounting flange 15 is of stepped cross-section as shown and is connected with the socket 16. A substantially plate-shaped retaining ring 22 is provided with a collar 23 on its outer circumference, and a portion 24 is displaced out from the collar 23 in such a manner that its edge ex tends radially outwardly. Another portion 26 is bent outwardly from the ring 22 opposite the portion 24. The ring 22 concentrically surrounds the reflector neck 20 and is soldered in the groove 25 defined between the neck 20 and the reflector 10. A disk or plate-shaped sealing ring 27 is provided having an outer collar 28, a cylindrical inner collar 29 and on its opposite axial sides a plurality of projections 30 of which two are illustrated. The ring 27 is placed about the socket 16 in such a manner that the collar 28 fits into the collar 23 of the retaining ring 22, and that the inner cylindrical collar 29 embraces and engages the socket 16. A cupshaped member 31 has an opening provided with a collar 32 which surrounds the outside of the collar 29 of the ring 27, and its outer periphery forms a collar 33 provided of one piece with a lug 34 which is formed with an opening 35 and on the inwardly extending surface of which there is provided a pocket 36 into which the blade of a non-illustrated screwdriver can be inserted.

When the light bulb 12 has been inserted into the reflector neck 20 the ring 27 is pushed onto it so that the collar 28 contacts the ring 22 and the collar 29 embraces the socket 16. The cup-shaped member 31 is then also pushed onto it from behind and embraces with its collar 32 the outside of the collar 29. The cupshaped member 31 is displaced forwardly until the lug 34 snaps behind the portion 24, the latter entering into the opening 35. This results in an effective sealing of the interior of the reflector 10 due to the collar 28 and the collar 29 both of which are pressed by the cupshaped member 31 against the ring 22 and the socket 16, respectively. To avoid improper assembly of the cup-shaped members 31, considering that the replacement of the bulb 12 is to be capable of easy accomplishment by persons having no skill in the art, such as the average user, the portion 26 is provided which engages into a recess 37.

When the bulb 12 has to be replaced, then the blade of a screwdriver is inserted into the pocket 36 and slightly turned, causing the portion 34 to be displaced until it can be lifted over the portion 24, whereupon the arrangement can be disassembled, the bulb removed, and a new bulb put in its place.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 the retaining ring 40 has a collar 41 provided with a slot 42. The cupshaped member 43 may for instance be a casting having a center portion 48 with two annular beads 44, 46, a cylindrical wall portion 45, a projection 47 and a radially outwardly extending projection 49. The surfaces of the member 43 which face towards the reflector accommodate an outer O-ring 50, an inner O-ring 51 and an elastic ring 52. The cup-shaped member 43 with these rings is pushed against the retaining ring 40 until the projection 49 snaps into the slot 42 and is retained thereby. The bulb 12 is sealed with respect to the reflector in twofold manner, namely radially outwardly by engagement of the ring 50 which contacts the collar 41, and radially inwardly by the ring5l which is pressed radially inwardly against the socket 16 by the bead 46. The ring 52 presses the mounting flange pennanently against the reflector neck so that vibrations of the bulb 12 in the reflector are prevented. If in this construction the bulb 12 must be replaced, the blade of a screwdriver is inserted into the space 53 between collar 41 and projection 47 and turned until the collar 41 can move over the projection 49 so that the cup-shaped member 43 is released, permitting its withdrawal and the replacement of the bulb 12.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 is reminiscent of FIG. 1 and it will be seen that the retaining ring 56 is stepped and provided with a shoulder 58. A collar 57 is substantially cylindrical and is provided with three slots 59, only one of which is illustrated. From the neck 20 of the reflector there extend radially outwardly several projections 60 in such a manner that the ring 56 can be moved over them until it snaps behind the projections 60 and is held thereby. This may require elastic deflection of some of the components involved. A groove 62 is formed between the ring 56 and the neck 20, and is sealed by an O-ring 61 which is pressed by the ring 56 against the reflector 10. The shoulder 58 prevents radially outward displacement of the ring 61 when subjected to such pressure. The sealing ring is designated with reference numeral 63; it differs from the one illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2 in that its outer collar 65 is stepped and its inner collar 66 has a plateshaped radially inwardly extending flange 67 which completely covers and closes the rear end of the socket 16, leaving open only the contacts 17. The ring 63 has only a single projection 68 extending towards the socket 16. The outwardly extending portion of the ring 63 is engaged by a plate 70 whose configuration is the same as that of the ring 60 and which surrounds and retains the latter. The cup-shaped member is designated with numeral 13 having a collar 64 provided with a step 71; the collar 64 cooperates with the slot 59 of the ring 56 in the manner of a bayonet closure.

In this embodiment the bulb with its flange 15 is inserted into the neck 20, whereupon the ring 63 is inserted with its collar 65 into the ring 56. The plate is then put into place and the cup-shaped member 13 is used to push the plate 70 axially forwardly until the portion 71 interengages in a bayonet-closure manner with the slit 59. The sealing effect here is between the collar 65 and the collar 66, the flange 15 being pressed into radial contact by the projection 68.

It is also possible to provide (according to an embodiment that is not illustrated) a cup-shaped member the periphery of which accommodates an elastic seal and engages the exterior of the reflector. In this case the transverse wall of the cup-shaped member must be provided with contacts which are connected in the interior of the cup-shaped member with the contacts of the light bulb. The proper seating of the flange 15 would be provided by a spring arranged in the cylindrical portion of the cup-shaped member.

Coming now to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 it will be seen that the retaining ring 75 is pushed onto the neck 20 until the projection 76 of the ring engages the reflector 10. In the groove defined by the reflector 10 and ring 75, and identified with reference numeral 77, is placed an O-ring 50 which is retained therein by being slightly tensioned. The edge of the cup-shaped member 78 is provided with a conical portion 79 which sealingly presses the O-ring 50 into the groove 77 when the cup-shaped member 78 is engaged in bayonetclosure manner with the ring 75. The outer circumference of the edge 80 is provided with several ribs 81 which extend in parallelism with the optical axis 00 and which are engaging portions facilitating engagement of the cup-shaped member 78 by the hand of a user, when the bayonet closure is to be established or released. A portion 46 is provided with a U-shaped groove 82 which accommodates an O-ring 51 serving to seal the interior of the reflector 10 with reference to the socket 16. A dished spring 83 is also provided on the portion 46 of the cup-shaped member 78, preferably being connected therewith, and the bulging portion 84 of this spring permanently presses the flange 15 of the bulb against the reflector neck 20.

Coming, finally, to the embodiment of FIG. 6 it will be seen that a spring bracket 86 is utilized which is shown in the left-hand side of the drawing in tensioned connection, whereas in the right-hand side it is shown in relaxed condition. The cup-shaped member is designated with reference numeral 88, having a conically configurated portion 95 which presses a first O-ring 50 sealingly against the retaining ring 87. The latter is provided on at least two diametrally opposite portions with a projection 91 having a nose 97, and the cup-shaped member 88 is also provided with two cooperating projections 92. The spring bracket 86 has a cut-out 89 and its leg 90 can be hooked into the nose 97, with the projection 91 entering into the cut-out 89. A depression 94 is formed in the projection 91 to assure that in the relaxed condition the portion 93 of the spring bracket 86 is held in place. This is to assure that the bracket will not become lost when the bulb has to be replaced by another one. It will be appreciated that when the cupshaped member 88 has to be fixed in place, the arm 93 of the spring bracket is pushed radially inwardly from the relaxed position at the right-hand side of FIG. 6, until the arm 93 snaps out of the depression 94 and into a depression 99 of the projection 92. This provides for a reliable and permanent connection of the interior of the reflector at the neck 20.

As pointed out in the introductory portion of this description, the present invention afiords the advantage of permitting the replacement of a defective bulb 12 with a new one, without requiring tools, except perhaps the use of a screwdriver to release the aforementioned components, and, what is even more important, without requiring any technical expertise on the part of a person carrying out the replacement. Moreover, once the replacement has been carried out the interior of the reflector 10 is again sealed against the entry of contaminants. Thereby, the overall lifetime of the sealed-beam headlight--whose non-replaceable components are of course more expensive than the replaceable bulb 12-is significantly increased and the economy of its use is improved.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions dif- V fering from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a sealed-beam headlight, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In a sealed-beam headlight, a combination comprising a circular reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring fixed on said reflector and encircling said tubular neck; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and including a socket located in said neck and a radially extending annular mounting flange encircling said socket element; a cup-shaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring; and circular sealing means of resilient material compressed between said cup-shaped member and said socket in radial direction of said reflector and compressed between said cup-shaped member and said retaining ring in axial direction of said reflector.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular neck is provided at said outer open end thereof with a circular rim portion, and wherein said radially extending annular mounting flange abuts upon and is supported by said circular rim portion.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a ring of elastomeric material.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, said retaining ring having at least two retaining projections; and wherein said cup-shaped member has a cylindrical peripheral portion provided with at least two diametrally 8 opposite projecting legs each having an opening in which one of said retaining projections is receivable.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1, said cupshaped member having at least two diametrally opposite projections; and wherein said retaining ring has an annular collar provided with at least two slots each retainingly accommodating one of said projections.

6. A combination as defined in claim I, said cupshaped member and said retaining ring having cooperating engageable portions of a bayonet-closure; and further comprising a cover plate pressed by said cupshaped member against said sealing means when said portions of said bayonet closure are in engagement.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, said tubular neck having at least two projecting lugs which engage and press said retaining ring against said reflector, said retaining ring and reflector defining with one another an annular groove; and further comprising additional sealing means sealing said groove.

8. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining ring engages said reflector and defines therewith an annular groove; and further comprising an O- ring sealing said groove and having a radial shoulder.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising at least two spring brackets engaging and urging said retaining ring and said cup-shaped member together.

10. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring eiement fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cupshaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, wherein said sealing ring is disk-shaped and has an inner cylindrical collar, an outer cylindrical collar, and an annular retaining portion surrounding the latter.

11. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said sealing ring is provided with at least three projections on each of its two axial sides.

12. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said inner collar comprises a radially inwardly extending flange sealingly engaging said socket.

13. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb ex tending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cupshaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, wherein said sealing ring is an O ring compressed between said cupshaped member and said retaining ring element; and further comprising an additional O-ring compressed between said cupshaped member and said socket element.

14. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination com prising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cupshaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, wherein said sealing ring is an O-ring compressed between said cupshaped member and said retaining ring element is an annular groove defined between the latter and said reflector, said cup-shaped member having a conically shaped edge portion which engages and sealingly presses said O-ring into said groove.

15. A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said cup-shaped member further comprises a U-shaped groove accommodating an additional O-ring which is compressed between said cup-shaped member and said socket.

16. A combination as defined in claim 14, said cupshaped member carrying a dished spring which engages said mounting flange and presses the same against said neck.

17. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounted flange; a cupshaped member surrounding saidouter open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements; and further comprising at least two spring brackets engaging and urging said retaining ring element and said cup-shaped member together, said retaining ring element and cup- 10 shaped member each having at least two projections, and wherein each of said brackets has a cut-out which accommodates one of said projections of said cup shaped member, portions of said brackets being in snapped engagement with said projections of said cupshaped member.

18. A combination as defined in claim 17, said projections of said retaining ring each having a depression adapted to accommodate said portions in part when said brackets are in unstressed condition.

19. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cupshaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, said headlight having an optical axis, and wherein said cupshaped member has a circumference provided with ribs which extend parallel to said optical axis.

20. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cupshaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, said sealing ring being an O-ring, and said cup-shaped member having a conical portion which presses said O-ring against said retaining ring. 

1. In a sealed-beam headlight, a combination comprisIng a circular reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring fixed on said reflector and encircling said tubular neck; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and including a socket located in said neck and a radially extending annular mounting flange encircling said socket element; a cup-shaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring; and circular sealing means of resilient material compressed between said cup-shaped member and said socket in radial direction of said reflector and compressed between said cup-shaped member and said retaining ring in axial direction of said reflector.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular neck is provided at said outer open end thereof with a circular rim portion, and wherein said radially extending annular mounting flange abuts upon and is supported by said circular rim portion.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a ring of elastomeric material.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1, said retaining ring having at least two retaining projections; and wherein said cup-shaped member has a cylindrical peripheral portion provided with at least two diametrally opposite projecting legs each having an opening in which one of said retaining projections is receivable.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1, said cup-shaped member having at least two diametrally opposite projections; and wherein said retaining ring has an annular collar provided with at least two slots each retainingly accommodating one of said projections.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1, said cup-shaped member and said retaining ring having cooperating engageable portions of a bayonet-closure; and further comprising a cover plate pressed by said cup-shaped member against said sealing means when said portions of said bayonet closure are in engagement.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 1, said tubular neck having at least two projecting lugs which engage and press said retaining ring against said reflector, said retaining ring and reflector defining with one another an annular groove; and further comprising additional sealing means sealing said groove.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining ring engages said reflector and defines therewith an annular groove; and further comprising an O-ring sealing said groove and having a radial shoulder.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising at least two spring brackets engaging and urging said retaining ring and said cup-shaped member together.
 10. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cup-shaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, wherein said sealing ring is disk-shaped and has an inner cylindrical collar, an outer cylindrical collar, and an annular retaining portion surrounding the latter.
 11. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said sealing ring is provided with at least three projections on each of its two axial sides.
 12. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said inner collar comprises a radially inwardly extending flange sealingly engaging said socket.
 13. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through saiD neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cup-shaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, wherein said sealing ring is an O-ring compressed between said cup-shaped member and said retaining ring element; and further comprising an additional O-ring compressed between said cup-shaped member and said socket element.
 14. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cup-shaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, wherein said sealing ring is an O-ring compressed between said cup-shaped member and said retaining ring element is an annular groove defined between the latter and said reflector, said cup-shaped member having a conically shaped edge portion which engages and sealingly presses said O-ring into said groove.
 15. A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said cup-shaped member further comprises a U-shaped groove accommodating an additional O-ring which is compressed between said cup-shaped member and said socket.
 16. A combination as defined in claim 14, said cup-shaped member carrying a dished spring which engages said mounting flange and presses the same against said neck.
 17. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounted flange; a cup-shaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements; and further comprising at least two spring brackets engaging and urging said retaining ring element and said cup-shaped member together, said retaining ring element and cup-shaped member each having at least two projections, and wherein each of said brackets has a cut-out which accommodates one of said projections of said cup-shaped member, portions of said brackets being in snapped engagement with said projections of said cup-shaped member.
 18. A combination as defined in claim 17, said projections of said retaining ring each having a depression adapted to accommodate said portions in part when said brackets are in unstressed condition.
 19. In a sealed beam headlight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cup-shaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, said headlight having an optical axis, and wherein said cup-shaped member has a circumference provided with ribs which extend parallel to said optical axis.
 20. In a sealed beam headLight, a combination comprising a reflector having a tubular neck provided with an outer open end; a retaining ring element fixed on said tubular neck and encircling the same; a bulb extending through said neck into said reflector and having a socket element located in said neck and encircled by a radially extending annular mounting flange; a cup-shaped member surrounding said outer open end and having engaging portions in snap-fitted engagement with said retaining ring element and at least one sealing ring sealingly compressed between said cup-shaped member and at least one of said elements, said sealing ring being an O-ring, and said cup-shaped member having a conical portion which presses said O-ring against said retaining ring. 